Sprinkler head



M. A. VALEN SPRINKLER HEAD Aug, 11, 1953 Filed May 26, 1951 iAu ngll xii/C6645! .4. K4151? INVENI 0R.

Patented Aug. 11, 1953 U N STATES 2,648,57'0

SPRINKLER-HEAD Michael A. Valen, Ghula Vista; Califf, as'sign'or'tir Rohr Aircraft Corporation; Gh'ulai Vista; Ga-lifi', a corporation of California Application May 26, 1951, Serial No. 228,422

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a sprinkler head especially adapted for spraying lawns, flower beds, etc. by an underground piping system.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head capable of sprayin evenly, in all directions around the sprinkler, a considerable ground area.

Another object is to provide a sprinkler head which is economical to manufacture and is composed of a minimum number of parts, each of which is a standard article of commerce and therefore readily available in all sections of this country.

A further object is to provide a sprinkler head whose parts are highly corrosion-resistant, thus assuring its long life and low maintenance cost.

Further objects will become apparent as the description of the device proceeds. For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an enlarged top view of a sprinkler head embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section of the device shown in Figure 1 taken on the line II-II thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top view of a Washer forming part of the device and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a nut adapted for use in the sprinkler.

Sprinkler heads of several designs are sold for attachment to the vertically disposed pipes of underground water systems for sprinkling lawns, flower beds and other ground areas requiring Watering. Such sprinklers have as component parts thereof, metal castings, tubes, screws and other parts which are not standard hardware items so that when a worn out part needs replacement, it must be ordered from the manufacturer. Furthermore, such especially made parts are more expensive to manufacture than somewhat similar items which have been standardized and are produced in large quantities for general sale.

It is a main purpose of the present invention to provide a sprinkler head which delivers a well distributed spray yet is made up of standard parts which are usually stocked by hardware dealers in all parts of the country. This wide availability of the parts permits the quick and easy replacement of a sprinkler part which ha become damaged or worn out.

The illustrated sprinkler head has a standard cylindrical pipe cap It] internally threaded at H so that it may be screwed onto the threaded upper end l2 of a vertical riser pipe l3 of an underground water system installed under the lawn or other area to be sprinkled. It will be understood that a number of riser pipes spaced suitable distances apart will be provided throughout the lawn area and that the top of the several sprinkler heads Will be substantially at ground level. A hole 14 is drilled and countersunk through the center of top wall l5 of cap It], the tapered marginal wall of hole It being indicated at I6. A machine screw [1 passes through hole I4, the screw having a frusto-conical shaped head l8, whose peripheral surface I9 lies close and substantially parallel to wall I6. Screw l! is centered in hole It by a thin, circular lock washer 29 of the standard AN936-A type, which is provided with a plurality of closely spacedapart projecting fingers 2|, which subdivide the water, before discharge, into many small jets. Screw H and washer 26 are retained in position by a standard type Tinnerman speed nut 22 whose ends 23 engage wall l5 and whose inwardly extending prongs 24 engage the thread of screw ll. Water enters nut 22 along its front and rear faces 25 into the space indicated at 26. From here it passes upwardly and is subdivided into many jets by the fingers 2| and also deflected outwardly into a desirable spray-pattern by the deflecting surface [9.

Instead of nut 22, a standard castellated nut 21 of the type shown in Figure 4 may be used. The spaces between the castles of the nut provide a set of channels 28 for the entrance of water into the space 25 from which it is converted into spray as above described. When low cost is a prime requirement, cap I0 may be made of cast or malleable iron and the other sprinkler parts made of steel, preferably plated with cadmium or other corrosion-resistant material. In cases where long life is of more importance, the parts may be made of brass, bronze or other corrosionresistant metal.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment of the invention is therefore to be considered as in ll respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are intended to be embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A sprinkler head adapted to form liquid issuing from a vertical pipe, having a thread on its upper end, into a spray distributed substantially uniformly in all directions around the pipe, said head consisting of a hollow pipe cap having at one end a solid wall and at its opposite end an internal thread adapted for threaded engagement with said pipe thread, said end wall being provided with a discharge opening having an outwardly tapered marginal wall; a unitary screw passing through said discharge opening and having a frusto-conical head with a peripheral surface substantially parallel to and closely adjacent said marginal wall; a thin circular washer having its outer edge continully seated againstsaid marginal wall and having spaced apart points on its inner edge seated against the head of said screw;

and a nut having its lower end in threaded engagement with said screw and its upper end in engagement with said solid cap wall, said tapered marginal wall and washer centering said screw head in the discharge opening in response to the tightening of said nut; said nut having one or more openings adapted to pass liquid from said pipe into said discharge opening.

MICHAEL A. VALEN.

Name Date Dietsch Oct. 4, 1932 Number 

